Association News

Source: www.TurfMagazine.com

NOFA Announces 8th Organic Land Care Course

The Northeast Organic Farming Association will put on its 8th annual five-day accreditation course in Organic Land Care. It is designed to provide professionals with the education needed for an understanding of organic land care, from design to maintenance. Classes will include Principles and Procedures; Site Analysis, Design and Maintenance; Rain Gardens/Stormwater Infiltration; Soil Health; Soil Food Web; Fertilizer and Soil Amendments; Composting; Lawns; Lawn Alternatives; Planting and Plant Care; Wetlands; Pest Management; Wildlife Management; Disease Control; Weeds; Mulches; Invasive Plants; Client Relations; and Running a Business. Four hands-on case studies are also included. Attendees who pass the optional exam can become NOFA Accredited Organic Land Care Professionals, able to use the NOFA Organic Land Care logo, be listed on the Web site and be published annually in the NOFA Guide to Organic Land Care.

The course will be held in Leominster, Mass., January 14-16 and 20-21, 2009; New Haven, Conn., January 27-30 and February 2, 2009; Schodack, N.Y., February 17-20 and 23, 2009; and Providence, R.I., February 25-27 and March 2-3, 2009. For more information, visit www.organiclandcare.net.

Green Industry Sales Professionals Invited to Exhibit at ESGIS

Booths are available for exhibitors who would like to promote their green industry products, equipment and services at the 2009 Empire State Green Industry Show, scheduled for January 7-9, 2009, at the Rochester Riverside Convention Center in Rochester, N.Y. The event is produced by the New York State Nursery & Landscape Association, New York State Arborists—ISA Chapter and the New York State Turfgrass Association. To learn more, visit www.nysta.org.

Project EverGreen Recognizes Bexley for Landscaping Innovations

Bexley, Ohio, won this year’s Project EverGreen Landscaped Areas Award in the national America in Bloom competition. Each year, cities nationwide that actively work toward beautifying community green spaces are encouraged to enter. This is the first year that Bexley, a community of 12,200, has been involved with the program. The city also received second place in the overall America in Bloom competition, out of six cities of comparable size. Communities were evaluated on efforts related to floral displays, urban forestry, landscaped areas, turf and groundcover, tidiness, environmental awareness, heritage conservation and community involvement. The award was presented during the seventh annual America in Bloom Symposium & Awards Program.

ASLA Presents Survey Results, Inducts Officers

The results of an online survey conducted by Harris Interactive on behalf of the American Society of Landscape Architects were presented at ASLA’s Annual Meeting & Expo. The survey examined the use of sustainable and energy-efficient practices in the home and in the yard, lawn or garden, as well as attitudes about sustainable landscape practices. It comes in advance of a report on sustainable landscape benchmarks and guidelines from the Sustainable Sites Initiative. The report will offer scientifically researched approaches to creating sustainable sites and landscapes.

ASLA inducted Angela Dye as its 61st president during the annual meeting. With over 25 years of professional experience, Dye is the founder of the landscape architecture firm A DYE DESIGN, Inc. The president-elect is Gary Scott, continuing over two decades of leadership within ASLA. He is the director of parks and recreation for the city of West Des Moines, Iowa. Three new vice presidents were installed, including Pam Blough, Brian Dougherty and Gary Brown. They will serve two-year terms. Terry Clements, Jonathan Mueller and Tom Tavella will continue their service on the executive committee.

SWAT Submits Testing Protocol

The Smart Water Application Technologies initiative, led by the Irrigation Association, has submitted its eighth testing protocol for climate-based controllers to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. It is the industry’s first to be sent to the EPA for consideration in the WaterSense product labeling program. The protocol is for “smart” irrigation controllers that monitor weather conditions to determine landscape irrigation.

NAEDA Introduces Power Pro Program

The North American Equipment Dealers Association unveiled its Power Pro Program during the 2008 GIE+EXPO. Developed by the association’s OPE Dealer Council, the program offers accreditation to dealers who operate their businesses under a universal set of standards that measure sales and service performance. To apply for accreditation, dealers must be an independent outdoor power equipment retailer; have parts and service departments; maintain a current retail certificate and/or vendor’s license; and have business insurance or the financial responsibility for the liabilities of the dealership. For more information, visit www.naeda.com.